Machine for coating wafers and the like



,Feb. 3', 1925: 1,524,932

H, P. HEALEY momma FOR 06mm mums AND THE LIKE Filed Ayg. 29, 1923 3 Sheeti-Sheet 1 Ell/T0)? 10124?! P HEALEY.

ATTOHNE YJZ Feb. 3, 1925.

HI HEALEY I .MACHINE FOR CQATfNG WAFERS AND THE LIKE Ffid Aug." 29,

3- SheetsI-Sheet 2 I v m F g 2E4 ATT Ell/Eye? Feb. 3, 1925. 1,524,932

H. P. HEALEY MACHINE FOR COATING WAFERS AND THE LIKE ZNVE'IVTOR HARRY P .HEALEY Arromrsm Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

STATES HARRY P. HEALEY, Oi SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR COATING WAFERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 29, I923. Serial No. 659,934.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY P. HEALEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Coating .Vafers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for coating wafers with icing, chocolate and like materials.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of machines of the character described to increase their capacity and total output, and to insure a uniform product. I accomplish this object by providing a machine embodying a main supporting frame on top of which is supported a hopper, this hopper containing the coating material to be employed. Disposed below the hopper and adapted to travel under the same is a carriage, and mounted on the carriage is a table for the reception of the product to be coated and a plate which forms a sliding closure for the bottom of the hopper. Means are also provided for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage so as to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the bottom of the hopper; means are provided for raising and lowering the receiving table with relation to the hopper so as to increase or decrease the thickness of the coating ma.- tcrial, and means are provided for securing the wafers or material to be coated during the coating operation so as to prevent breakage, displacement, etc.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following de scription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section. of the machine.

Fig. t is an end View partially in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A indicates a main frame of suitable construc tion on top of which is disposed a pair of inter-spaced tracks, as indicated at 2 and 3. These. tracks extend from end to end of the machine and form a support for a carriage generally indicated at B. This Carriage is constructed of longitudinally extending strips of angle iron such as shown at d and 5, which are tied together by cross-bars (3, and it is supported by three pair of wheels such as indicated at 7 8 and 9. Also supported by the main frame is a hopper 10. This hopper is disposed above the carriage so as to permit free movement thereof and it is provided for the reception of the coating material to be employed. The upper end of the hopper is bent to receive the coating material, and the lower end of the hopper is similarly bent to permit a free discharge of the coating material during the coating operation.

The carriage serves two functions, first, that of forming a. closure for the bottom of the hopper, and secondly, that of delivering the material to be coated to apoint below the hopper so that the coating material may be applied. One end of the carriage is provided with a plate 11, the upper surface of which is machined so as to form a snug sliding fit with relation to the lower end of the hopper. This plate forms a sliding closure therefor and, as it is supported by the carriage, it alternately moves into and out of register with the hopper and as such forms asliding bottom therefor. The can riage is also provided with a receiving table generally indicated at 12. This table is disposed on the opposite end of the carriage and is adapted to receive the material to be coated. If a wafer is to be coated, the wafer is placed on the surface of the table and is here secured by a cover plate 13. This plate has an opening formed therein as indicated at 14; corresponding to the size of the wafer shell and cross wires are placed in the opening as indicated at 15 to hold the shell from bulging up in the center, and

also for securing broken shells that are carei lessly handled.

The plate 15 is pivotally secured to the carriage as at 16 and it is automatically raised and lowered when the machine is in operation. This is accomplished as follows:

'Dispose'd on each side of the main frame is a pair of upwardly extending cam arms 17, and also disposed on each side of the plate 13 is a pair of rollers 18. These rollers engage the cam arms 17 during forward movement of the carriage and as such raise the plate 13, and they similarly ride downwardly on the cam arms during opposite ill) movement of the carriage and as such is the case the water shell is flattened and secured during the coating operation.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the table or plate 12 is supported by a series of stud screws such as shown at 19. These screws are adjustable and thereby permit raising and lowering of the table 12. This is of considerable importance as it permits an increase or decrease in the thickness of the coating material when applied; that is, some wafers may require a thicker coating than others and if this is the case it can be readily taken care of by the structure here shown.

A. power drive is employed in the present instance and this is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. An electric motor 20 transmits power through a belt 21 to a reduction worm gear drive generally indicated at 22. The low speed shaft of this reduction drive is provided with a sprocket gear 23 and this sprocket gear transmits power to a second sprocket gear indicated at 24 through means of an endless chain shown at 25. The sprocket gear 24: is loosely mounted on a shaft 26 and the hub thereof is provided with a jaw clutch 27 which cooperates with a sliding aw clutch 28. This latter clutch is splined to the shaft 26 and means are employed for throwing it into and out of en gagement with relation to the clutch 27. In ward movement of the sliding jaw clutch is obtained by placing a helical spring 29 be tween the shaft bearing and the clutch, while outward or disengaging movement is obtained by a pin 30 and a cam lever 31. The pin 30 is secured to the sliding clutch, while the cam member 31 is secured to a cross shaft 32 journalled in the lower portion of the main frame. This cross shaft is provided with a foot treadle 33 which is extended to a point where it can be conveniently stepped on by the operator, and it is normally held in an elevated position by means of a helical spring 34:. .Vhen the elevated position is assumed by the treadle, cam arm 31 is so positioned that it engages the pin 30 and thereby holds the clutches out of engagement. The motor, together with the reduction gear, the sprockets 23 and 24:, and the chain 25, may thus run con tinuously without impart-ing a rotary movement to the shaft 26, but rotary movement is transmitted when the clutches are engaged and this will only take place when the treadle 33 is stepped on or depressed.

Secured on the outer end of the shaft 26 is a disk 35, and extending from one face thereof is a crank pin 36. Extending across the frame and journalled therein is a cross shaft 37, and secured thereto is an upwardly extending crank. arm 38, which is connected to the rear end of the carriage B through means of a link 39, an oscillating movement being transmitted to the crank arm 38 through means of a link or connecting rod 40 which is pivotally connected to the arm 38 at one end and to the crank pin 36 at the opposite end.

The operation of the machine will be as follows:

lVith the hopper filled with a suitable form of coating material and the electric motor 20 running, it will only be necessary to place a wafer shell on the plate or table 12 and then to step on the foot treadle to depress the same. This operation swings the cam arm away from the pin 30 and the spring 29 will thus instantly throw the clutches into engagement and transmit rotary movement to the shaft 26 and the crank disk 35. This movement is transmitted through the crank pin 36 and link 40 to the crank arm 38 and as this is connected to the carriage, a reciprocal movement will be transmitted thereto. It should be remembered that the carriage normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. and that when movement is imparted to the carriage, the plate 11 moves away from the bottom of the hopper, while the receiving table moves in under the same. The securing plate carrying the cross-wires 15 at the same time drops, flattens and secures the wafer and as the table moves in under the hopper the coating material is applied. During the return iovement, a scraper 42 disposed in front of th hopper smooths off and removes the surplus material and the bottom plate again moves into position, thus cutting off the flow of further material. The securing plate, together with the cross-wires, is again auto matically raised and the wafer is thus released and is free to be removed. A new wafer is then placed in position and the operation again repeatec by merely depressing the foot treadle. It may also be stated that only one reciprocal movement will be imparted to the carriage during each depression of the treadle as the treadle is released the moment after it is depressed. This swings the cam arm back to position where it automatically throws the clutches out of engagement when the end of the stroke is reached and the carriage therefore remains at rest until the coated wafer is removed and a new wafer is placed in position as no movement will be imparted to the carriage until the treadle is again depressed.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the operation of the machine is, practically speaking, automatic as the only duty, as far as the operator is concerned, is that of placing the wafer shells and removing the same when coated, the only additional work being that of depressing the foot treadle whenever reciprocal movement is to be imparted to the carriage.

'lhe motor, together with the reduction drive, sprocket chains, etc, is continuously operated but no reciprocal movement is imparted except as desired- It can further be seenthat practically any kind of coating material can be employed,-and that where heat is required. it is possibleto retain the coating material at a as shown in Fig. 2 so as to clear the hopper and they can therefore not interfere with the scraper 4201" any portion thereof.

i-tctual experience has shown that it is comparatively diflieult to maintain a tight joint between the lower end of the hopper and the plate 11 which formsa sliding closure therefor. The hopper is for this reason supported by means of adjustable stud'bolts such as indicated at 45. This permits the hopper tobe slightly raised or lowered with. relation to the plate 11,- thus reducing leakage to a mini-mum. The scraper 4 2 issimilarly adjustable as it is secured to the hopper by means ofbolts-MS, these bolts passing through elongated slots 4:7 to perm-it the adj ustinent. Any leakage which may tahe place is taken care of, however, as a drip or leakage receiving pan i8 is placed below the hopper and the carriage and no waste is encountered as the coating material may be returned to the hopper from time to time.

lVhile certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or "various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A. machine of the character described comprising amain frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, a. table disposed below the hopper and adapted to support material to be coated. means for imparting movement to the table so that it will pass under the discharge end of the hopper and receive the coating material, and means carried by and movable with the table and forming a closure for the discharge opening when the coating material has been applied.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed. above thexfraineand adapted to contain a coating material, a. table disposed below the hopper and adapted to: support material to be coated, means for imparting movement to the table so that it will pass under the dis charge end of the hopper and receive the coating material, means for closing the discharge opening when: the coating material has been. applied, and means for increasing or decreasing the thickness of the coating material when applied.

A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, a. carriage slidable on the frame below the hopper, a plate on the carriage forming a sliding bottom section for the hopper to alternately open and close the same, and a table on the carriage adapted to support material to: be coated, said table being m vable in unison with the sliding bottom plate and the carriage to and away from the bottom of the hopper.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper havinga discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper, aplate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottomof the hopper, a table on the carriage for the reception of material to be coated, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement to thecarriage to --alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge opening in the hopper.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper. a plate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, a table on the carriage for the reception of material to be coated, means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge opening in the hopper, and means carried by the table for securing the material to be coated.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper, a plate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, a table on the carriage for the reception of material to be coated,

means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge opening in the hopper, and means permitting vertical adjustment of the table with relation to the hopper to increase or decrease the thickness of the coating material when applied.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper, a plate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, a table on the carriage for the reception of material to be coated, means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge opening in the hopper, means carried by the table for securing the material tobe coated, and means permitting vertical adjustment of the table with relation to the hopper to increase or decrease .the thickness of the coating material when applied.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper, a plate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, a table on the cariage for the reception of material to be coated, means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge opening in the hopper, means carried by the table for securing the material to be coated, and means for automatically raising and lowering said securing means during movement of the table and carriage.

A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, a hopper disposed above the frame and adapted to contain a coating material, said hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a carriage disposed below the hopper, a plate on the carriage forming a sliding closure for the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, a table on the carriage for the reception of material to be coated, means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carraige to alternately bring the table and the closing plate into register with the discharge; opening in the hopper, means permitting vertical adjustment of the table with relation to the hopper to increase or decrease the thickness of the coating material when applied, and means permitting vertical adjustment of the hopper with relation to the table and the closing plate,

10. In a machine of the character described the combination with the hopper and the carriage cooperating therewith, of means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage, said means comprising a crank arm connected to one end of the carriage, a shaft, a crank secured on the shaft, a connecting rod between said crank and the first named crank, and means for intermittently rotating the shaft, said means comprising a continuously rotating member freely turnable on the shaft, a aw clutch formed on said rotating member, a cooperating jaw clutch splined on the shaft, and means for automatically throwing the splined clutch into and out of engagement with the first named clutch.

11. In a machine of the character described the combination with the hopper and the carriage cooperating therewith, of means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage, said means comprising a crank arm connected to one end of the carriage, a shaft, a crank secured on the shaft, a connecting rod between said crank and the first named crank, and means for intermittently rotating the shaft, said means comprising a con tinuously rotating driven member freely turnable on the shaft, a jaw clutch forming a part thereof, a second jaw clutch splined on the shaft, a spring normally tending to push the splined clutch into engagement with the first named clutch, a pin on said splined clutch, a cam arm normally engaging the pin and holding the clutches out of engagement, and means for manually retracting the cam arm to release the pin and the splined clutch.

12. In a machine of the character de scribed the combination with the hopper and the carriage cooperating therewith, of means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carriage, said means comprising a crank arm connected to one end of the carriage, a shaft, a crank secured on the shaft, a connecting rod between said crank and the first named crank, means for intermittently rotating the shaft, said means com prising a continuously rotating driven member freely turnable on the shaft, a jaw clutch forming a part thereof, a second aw clutch splined on the shaft, a spring normally tending to push the splined clutch into engagement with the first named clutch, a pin on said splined clutch, a cam arm normally engaging the pin and holding the clutches out of engagement, means for manually retracting the cam arm to release the pin and the splined clutch, and means for returning the cam arm when released so as to engage the pin on the splined clutch, and to automatically retract the samewhen one revolution has been completed.

HARRY P, HEALEY, 

